By CHILA NAMAIKO and BRIAN HATYOKA –
PARLIAMENT yesterday heard that Police will deal firmly and without fear or favour, political activists using violence as a means of advancing their political goals.

. MWILA

Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila told the House that the mandate of Police is to protect people from violence being instigated by some misguided politicians.
Mr Mwila said this in a ministerial statement following violence that occurred around 18:00 hours in Bweengwa Constituency of Monze, last Saturday, in which a convoy of Government vehicles and officers, including Zambia News and Information Service (ZANIS) crew, was attacked and held captive by suspected UPND members.
This was after President Edgar Lungu addressed a public rally at Bweengwa Primary School, where a huge number of people turned out.
“Mr Speaker, democracy demand that we protect the fundamental freedoms of association, assembly and speech. I want to warn that Police will now deal firmly with those involved in political violence,” he said.
Mr Mwila said that more Police officers have since been deployed to Southern Province to ensure that people were protected from violence.
He said, while President Lungu was addressing the rally, Police received information that suspected UPND members had blocked the Niko-Monze Road, which leads out of Bweengwa.
The members turned violent on Government officers that had to clear the venue of the President’s meeting, and started throwing stones and other objects.
“By the time the Police contained the situation, three police officers and some members of ZANIS team had been injured, while four Government motor vehicles were also damaged,” he said.
He said police are working hard to bring the perpetrators of the violence to book and  was conducting training for all officers to ensure they are professional in policing public gatherings.
Meanwhile, Vice- President Inonge Wina has urged Police to move swiftly to apprehend the criminals who abducted Government officials and journalists in Bweengwa.
Ms Wina had also urged Zambians to protect journalists.
She said she was hopeful that Police would have no mercy on the perpetrators of the violence, because it had brought shame to Zambia as well as to the other law abiding citizens in Bweengwa Constituency.
Ms Wina was speaking in Livingstone at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport yesterday upon her arrival in Zambia’s tourist capital, where she went to officially open the 42nd Ordinary Session of the African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) Governing Council Meeting and High level symposium.
She said the abduction of journalists in Bweengwa should be condemned by all political leaders, including leaders in the United Party for National Development (UPND) whose cadres allegedly perpetuated the vice.
“This is a criminal act that should attract stiff punishment. I believe this act of abduction has crossed boundaries. This was not an attack on party cadres but on innocent people, civil servants and journalists,” Ms Wina said.
Ms Wina said many countries had engaged in small pockets of violence that eventually escalated.
Meanwhile, UPND Bweengwa MP, Highvie Hamududu accused members of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), of having caused the violence in his area.
Mr Hamududu told journalists at a media briefing at Parliament building yesterday that President Lungu allegedly addressed unruly PF members who in turn started abusing villagers for not raising party symbol.
“The entourage included policemen meant to clear the way for these visitors. It is surprising, therefore, to claim that the humble villagers could close roads,” Mr Hamududu said.
He said the opposition party was shocked to learn that the violence was caused by UPND members and had challenged Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja to investigate thoroughly on the matter.
Mr Hamududu was joined by his UPND counterparts, Kalomo MP, Request Muntanga, his Choma and Namwala counterparts Cornelius Mweetwa, and Lubezhi Moono respectively also attended the briefing.